On the eve of International Womens Day, Dr Kashmira Dave, a UNE Senior Lecturer in Academic Development, reflects on women who have inspired her.
On International Women’s Day, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by sharing the stories of two extraordinary women who have profoundly shaped my life.
Greatness isn’t always found in grand achievements, prestigious awards, or global recognition. Sometimes, it lies in the quiet strength of those who navigate life’s challenges with grace, wisdom, and resilience. The women I want to honour today didn’t climb mountains or win Nobel Prizes, but their actions and character have left an indelible mark on me.
My Mother: The Unwavering Pillar of Strength
My mother’s formal education ended with primary school. She left to care for her younger siblings, stepping into a nurturing role at an age when she should have been nurtured herself. Born to my grandmother when she was just 16, my mother grew up alongside her, almost like a co-mother to the rest of the family.
Despite my grandparents being Ayurvedic doctors, my mother never had the chance to pursue her studies. Yet, she never complained. Instead, she became our healer—treating our ailments with her deep knowledge of Ayurveda and her innate understanding of balance in the body and mind.
But what truly made her extraordinary wasn’t just her care for us or the elderly relatives who were always part of our home. It was the quiet, unwavering strength with which she lived. Looking back as an adult, I realise how masterfully she instilled values in us—never with strict rules but through powerful, unshakable principles.
She would say, “Something that’s not yours, you don’t take.” She never simply forbade stealing; instead, she made the principle absolute. I remember arguing, “But I found it on the street!” She would calmly reply, “Leave it at the temple.” At the time, surrendering a precious 10c—enough to buy me a candy—felt unfair. But now, I see the depth of her lesson: true integrity means disowning what was never yours to begin with.
She was also a gifted storyteller. Every night, my siblings and I would snuggle as close as possible, eager for a new tale. Her stories weren’t just entertainment—they were filled with lessons from scriptures, history, and culture, shaping our understanding of right and wrong. The stories never ended with “And that’s it.” Instead, she would ask, “Do you think the character made the right choice?” Those discussions built the foundation of who I am today.
She believed her greatest achievement wasn’t wealth or status—it was raising children who were better than her. I was with her in her final moments when she told me she was proud of me. Not for my degrees or career, but for the person I had become.
Donna Craig: The Woman Who Saw Me
The second woman who changed my life is Donna Craig. We worked together at Western Sydney Law School for four years—me, a learning designer struggling to finish my PhD while juggling a full-time job and carer responsibilities.
The first time we spoke, Donna simply said, “You are doing amazing work.” I remember being taken aback. How could she say that? She barely knows me!
But that was just Donna. She had a gift—she made people feel seen, valued, and appreciated. And it wasn’t just empty praise. She was an accomplished academic, already a professor. She had no obligation to notice my work, let alone acknowledge it so freely. Yet she did.
As a brown, short woman, I had faced my share of discrimination. But Donna made me realise that not everyone is like that. She reignited my faith in humanity.
Over time, I saw deeper layers of her strength. Donna had endured unimaginable loss—she lost both her husband and son in the same week. Yet, when she spoke about it, she was calm and composed. Through her, I learned that no matter how devastating life gets, persistence, wisdom, and the support of loved ones can pull you through.
She lived in an extended family, tightly connected and unwavering in their support for one another. She taught me that having a strong family network is life’s greatest asset.
Over the years, my children grew up visiting her, learning from her. Donna’s influence became part of our everyday language. To this day, we say, “That’s such a Donna thing to do,” and we all know exactly what it means. In different situations, “Donna” takes on different meanings—but always something good, something wise, something deeply human.
Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Legacies
You might think these kinds of stories exist in everyone’s life. And maybe they do. But what strikes me about my mother and Donna is how different their backgrounds were—one, barely literate; the other, highly accomplished. Yet, both shaped lives in profound ways.
There’s so much more to their stories than I could fit here. But they are proof that extraordinary impact isn’t reserved for those in the spotlight. Sometimes, the most powerful legacies are built in quiet acts of resilience, wisdom, and kindness.
This International Women’s Day, I celebrate my mother and Donna Craig—two extraordinary women who, in their own ways, made the world better.
And I invite you to look around. Who are the women in your life who inspire you? Sometimes, greatness is right there, in the everyday moments. You just have to notice.